Table



July 3 1945- c. w. ATTWOOD TABLE 2 Sheet$-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 4. 1942INVENTOR.

CHARLES W. ATTWOO'D ATTORNEYS July 31, 1945.' c. w. ATTWOOD TABLE FiledNOV. 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

CHARLES W.ATTWOOD ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 31, 1945 TABLE Charles W. Attwood, Wayn Mich. ApplicationNovember 4, 1942, Serial No. 464,408

8Clalms.

This invention relates to tables or the like, and has for its principalobject the quick building of a table or similar article of furniture oflight, strong. skeleton framework with ready fastening of the framingand supporting members in desired positions. 1

Another object of my invention is the formation of a table or the likewith its legs and framingv members substantially rectangular metalchannel members having one side open to form a continuous slot, withmeans adiustably mounted in the slotted faces for securing the componentmembers to each other, as well as for quickly positioning the table top,drawer slides, partitions, etc. in accurate alignment.

A further obiect of my invention is the provision of improved meanswhereby tables and like articles of furniture may be erected morequickly and easily than is now possible, with the expenditure of lesseffort and time in the field. and without the necessity of drilling orforming the component members. In fact the only tool necessary to beused, after the channel members have been cut to proper length in theshop, is a wrench, while a saw is also necessary ifthe channel membershave to be cut in the field.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a novel channeledsupporting member for tables and the like, preferably square-formed withrounded corners having one side open to form a continuous slotthroughout its length. the side walls'of the slot being formed ofinturned flanges forming clamping ridges to provide grips for tyingtogether and bridging'the opposite sides L of the slot by a grooved nut,thereby completing the hollow squareat points where bolting is done andconcentrated load is applied.

A further object of my invention is the arrangement of screw-threadedholding means for gripping the clamping ridges of such channel membersat any point along their entire length, with provision for readilyintroducing such holding means into the interior of the channeled memberthrough such slot, quickly adjusting the position of the holding memberswithin the slots whenever desired. and maintenance of the holdingmembers in selected positions as long as'desired.

other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawingsillustrating the preferred embodiments of the invention and whereinsimilar reference numerals desig- In the drawings:

Figure iis a perspective view showing a table I constructed inaccordance with myinvention. with the table top removed.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line2-2 of Figure 4, and showing a table similar to that shown in Figure 1prior to the mounting of drawer slide supports, and additionally showingthe table top and bracing ins-ans connecting the lower portions of thetable egs.

Figure 8 is a composite perspective view showing one of my improvedscrew threaded holding means with its parts separated and an enlargedsection of the slotted channel supporting members with which the holdingmeans cooperates.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one corner of thetable illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on theline 0-8 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 isan end elevation of a sli htly modifled table constructionwherein the table top may be secured in various tilted positions. v

Figure '1 is a vertical cross sectional view through the table shown inFigure 8.

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially on theline H of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings. numeral ll designates the legs. illongitudinal front and rear frame members. and it the side framemembers,

of the supporting framework structure for my improved table or similarpiece of furniture.

These members It, It and II are of identical hollow rectan ularmaterial. herein shown as squareformed with rounded corners and with oneface thereof slotted throughout the entire length of the material. Suchchannel member is best shown in perspective in Flaurea'S and 4.

The side walls of the slot are formed, of in-.

turned flanges ll. herein termed clamping ridges? with their freeedgea'beveled to impart a sharpened or pointed cross section tofacilitate securance of clamping nuts II in various selected hatesimilar 'partsthroughout the several views. 5

positions along the flanges i8. Oneotthe clamping nuts is is shown inperspective, with parts broken away, in Figure 3, and such nut is nor--vrower than the slot in the channeled members to permit ready insertionof the nut through the slot when properly turned. The length of the nutll. however. is greater than the distance between the clamping ridgesit, so that after the nut is inserted in the channel, it can bemaintained in position simply by turning the nut at right angles to theslot, so that its ends underhang and are retained by the flanges it. Theface oi the nut hardened teeth or serrations B which, when the nut isdrawn up tight, bite into the beveled extremities of the flanges It toassist in retaining the nut in desired position by positively looking itagainst longitudinal sliding movement along the flanges.

A spring Ii is preferably secured to and pro- ,lects from the oppositeor bottom face of the nut I l, being large enough indiameter to allowthe stem of the bolt I! to pass freely therethrough, as shown in Figure5- The spring is compressed against the wall of the channel memberopposite the slotted wall thereof when the nut is in place, frictionbeing thus imposed on the nut to' temporarily hold it against sliding inthe channel due'to its own weight, or as the result of vibration priorto its securance by turning the bolt home. This will be seen to enable.the placing of the nuts in advance, even in vertically arranged.channel members, without danger of' displacement, while the parts to bemay be secured in place at any time simply by thrusting the complementarbolt positions is into the previously positioned nuts and tightening thesame. The length of the nut is substantially equal to the distancebetween the side webs of the channel members.

one bracket ll, substantially as shown in Figure 4,

the supporting frame work for my improved table can be readily andrigidly assembled into substantially the shape shown in Figure 1. Theadiustable feet I! may be secured at the lower extremities of each legIII, as best shown in Figure 2.

Such feet' may comprise right-angled brackets havingthe upstandingflange apertured to receive ,a bolt 18 and a horizontal flange-aperturedto receive a oastor or formed with trally depressed portion tofacilitate easy sliding of the table along a floor. The bolts l8 threada rounded ceninto slotted nuts ll positioned within the legs illadjacent their lower extremities. Similar right 1 angled flanges ll maybe secured at any desired I heights upon the legs ill to support legbraces II jasshowninl lgurez.

' Diagonally opposite. corners of'the nuts are rounded, substantially asshown at "C, so that the nut may be readily turned from the initialposition of insertion; to its position of use, as by a quarter turnclockwise. At this point further] rotation of the nut is prevented bythe unreduced corners,,which thus assist in holding the-nut againstturning as the bolt is being tightened, and also insure proper alignmentof the slots 'IIA with the clamping ridges ll during the initialpositioning of the nuts. Th bolts is may be of conventional or anydesired type.

In assembling my improved table, the legs and framing member are cut topredetermined lengths, preferably in the. factory, and the side membersI: are first secured to the opposite ends of the-front and rearlongitudinal members ll,

forming the top rectangular table frame, to which the legs II areafterward assembled. As best .ahown in Figure 4. the bracket members I Iand I. are flrst secured by two bolts It to the opposite endsof thefront and rear longitudinal members,- which extend the full length ofthe table framing to the edge of th bracket members and over thetop endof the legs, one bolt is passing through aperture of bracket l1 and onebolt ll passing through aligned apertures in brackets l1 and II, afterwhich the side members I! are attached to bracket II by means of twobolts ll, thus forming a rectangular top frame of four structuralmembers with the two bracket memhers I! and is projecting downward ateach corher having one hole in bracket ll onlyvand one hole formed b3the aligned holes of i1 and I8 to which the legs can be attached at anytime. This provides two bolts, for stiffness, in each of the threestructural members meeting at the corner, and the legs is can bedismantled, when desired. for at, handling or storage, by removingformed of channeled material identical with that of the legs and framingmembers, substantially Should it be desired to secure a shelf upon suchbraces Il, brackets 22 may b secured at any desired} positions withinthe slotted face of the braces II with the upper flange of the brackets22 bent parallel withv the lower securing flange thereof,- and aperturedto permit the passage of a :crew' or bolt to fasten the shelf upon thebraces 40' Drawer slidesmaybe positioned at any desired points along thelongitudinal frame members ll,

- and as best shown in Figure 1, one side of the preferably secured tothe upstanding flange of the channel member I! can be utilized forpositioning one drawer slide, while'a cross member, as '23, securedintermediate the ends of the longitudinal frame members I I. The crossmember 28 is formed of channel material identical with that of the legsand framing members. and has its slotted face arranged toward the sidemember I! carrying the other drawer slide. As best shown in Figures 5and 8, the drawer slides may comprise right angled brackets 2|,- withone flange thereof secured through apertures 18. The lower flanges ofthe opposite drawer slides extend'toward each other and their uppersurfacesare engaged by the upper flanges of the short right-angledmembers 2 0 secured adjacent the rear corners of the sides of the drawer21.

To restrain tilting of the drawer during sliding movement, a small rightangled bracket 28 is members 28' withfts upper face clearing but inclose proximity to the lower face of the drawer slide 24.

The table top 20 may be firmly secured to the side and longitudinalframing members, if desired, and as best shown in Figures 2 and 4,rightangled brackets 30 are'arranged in the slotted faces of the framingmembers wherever desired. The brackets 30 are apertured to permit thepassage of bolts It through the upstanding flanges of the brackets tothread into suitably positioned slotted nuts it within the framingmembers, while the horizontal flange of each bracket 30 is apertured toreceive a securing implement, such as wood screw 3| turned into thelower face of the table top.

In Figures 6 to 8, another method of fastening the table top to theframing members is shown so as to permit tilting of the table top tovarious adjusted positions.

As best shown in Figure '7, the table to! 290 is secured to the forwardlongitudinal framing member H by hinges 32, whereby the rear extremityof the table top may be tilted substantially as shown in dotted lines inFigures 6 and 7. A pair of slotted guides 33 are preferably secured tothe under side of the table top 290, as by having their upperextremities pivoted upon brackets 3t secured to the table tops whilebolts 35 extend through the slots in the guides 33. The bolts 35 arecarried by brackets 36 secured in desired posi- '1 bolts I8 passingthrough the apertured of each bracket 86 and threading into slotted nutll positioned within the side framing members. Wing nuts 31 or the likeare preferably threaded upon the .bolts 35 to clamp tions by upper flangthe slotted guides 33 in various positions tohold the table top 290 atdesired angles of tilt.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention.

What I claim is:

1. A table comprising leg and fram members of identical material, saidmaterial consisting of substantially square-formed channel membershaving slots in one face extending from end to end of the material,means for securing said leg and frame members to each other withoutdeformation of either, comprising apertured brackets engaging theslotted faces of a plurality of said members, said brackets beingarranged in 1 pairs, the members of each pair having register,-

ing openings and one member of each pair having a right angle bend andhaving one of its anguiarly disposed portions arranged at right anglesto the other bracket of said pair and apertured, bolts extending throughsaid apertures and said slots, and nuts arranged within said channelmembers and threading with said bolts said pairs of brackets beinglocated at the junction of a leg and said frame members and being fixedto and thereby fixing together the said leg and the frame members.

2. A table comprising leg and frame members of identical material, saidmaterial consisting of substantially square-formed channel membershaving slots in one face extending from end to end of the material,inturned flanges forming side walls for said slots, means for securingsaid leg and frame members to each other without deformation of either,comprising apertured brack ets engaging the slotted faces of a pluralityof said members, said brackets being arranged in pairs, the members ofeach pair having registering openings and one member of each pair havinga right angle bend and'having one of its angularly disposed portionsarranged at right angles to the other bracket of said pair andapertured. bolts extending through said apertures and said slots, andnuts having slots on their front faces spaced to fit over said inturnedflanges said nuts being threaded over said bolts said pairs of bracketsbeing located at the junction of a leg and said frame members and beingfixed to and thereby fixing together the said leg and the frame members.

3. A table comprising leg and frame members of identical material, saidmaterial consisting of substantially square-formed channel membershaving slots in one face extending from end to end of the material,smooth inturned flanges on opposite sides of said slots bevelled attheir free edges, means for securing said leg and frame members to eachother without deformation of either, comprising apertured bracketsengaging the slotted faces of a plurality bolts extending slots, andnuts within the channel members having slots on their front faces spacedto fit over said inturned flanges and initially slidable freely oversmooth surfaces of the inturned flanges and formed with hardened teethto bite into th bevelled edges of said flanges when said bolts aretightened to secure the nuts in tight fixed engagement with saidflanges, whereby movement of the nuts in any direction is prevented.

- CHARLES W. A'I'IWOOD.

of said members, through said apertures and said

